Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM II Review By The Phoblographer

The Phoblographer posted an interesting review of Canon’s much discussed EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. A great, sharp lens with no IS (why?) and a rather hefty price tag ($2,299). They had two copies of the lens and found some inconsistencies (one sharper than the other). This is was known (unfortunately). There have been other reviews (Lensrentals and The Digital Picture) that reported variations in optical performance among copies if this lens. That’s a pity, given the price tag. And they clearly recommend the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 SP VC over the EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM II. Don’t get it wrong: the EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM II is a great lens, maybe a must for professional photographers, but the Tamron costs less and still delivers outstanding performance.

If the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II is in your mind you should have a look at The Phoblographer’s informative review. Sample images are provided. Quoting the verdict:

What’s Awesome: Extremely versatile lens with excellent performance overall for a photographer that needs it versatility.

What’s Not So Awesome: Prime lenses are still sharper, more reliable, and faster to focus. Copies of the lens vary; we tested three different ones. Lack of image stabilization shows that Canon’s corporate philosophy still hasn’t changed and does not realize that sometimes they need to cannibalize their own work to improve.

Verdict: This lens is quite expensive. Tamron’s 24-70mm f2.8 with VC is a better choice for the money.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM price check: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE